Kerala High Court: In a writ petition filed by the management of St. Rita’s Public School, seeking to pass an interim order directing to provide adequate police protection to the school, its premises and the managerial staff and to provide adequate protection of conduct of exams from 15-10-2025, pending final disposal of this writ petition, a Single Judge Bench of N. Nagaresh granted police protection to a CBSE-affiliated school in Ernakulam district following protests triggered by the school’s refusal to allow a Muslim student to wear a hijab in violation of its uniform policy.
The Court passed the interim order after the matter was mentioned urgently before the Court.
According to the petition, the school requires all students and their guardians to sign a written declaration at the time of admission agreeing to abide by the uniform policy, as outlined in clauses 30 to 33 of the school diary.
However, the school alleged that last week, a Muslim student began wearing a hijab to class, which it claimed was a violation of its uniform code. When the management sought a written explanation from the student’s guardians, the situation escalated.
On October 10, the guardians of the student, allegedly accompanied by over six persons, forcefully entered the school premises and manhandled the security personnel. Another group reportedly gathered outside the school gates and began raising slogans in protest.
The school principal had approached the local police station seeking to register a complaint against the alleged trespassers. However, the police allegedly failed to provide any form of protection, prompting the school to move the High Court.
The petitioner also alleged that the student’s guardians had been contacting other Muslim students’ families to join the protest, which led the school to declare a holiday on October 13 and 14 as a preventive measure.
Taking note of the situation, the High Court directed that police protection be provided to the school. The Court also issued notice by speed post to the guardians of the student in question. The matter has been posted for further hearing on 13-11-2025.
[St. Rita’s Public School v. Director General of Police, WP(C) No. 37785 of 2025 (W), decided on 13-10-2025]